Golf club joint



W 9 19360 A. A. KRAEUTER 2,039,320

GOLF CLUB JOINT Filed Dec. 28,-l928 INVENTOR ATTOR N EY Patented May 5, 1936 UNl'lED STATES PATENT OFFICE GOLF CLUB JOINT Arthur A. Kraeuter, South Orange, N. J., assignor to The Kroydon Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application December 28, 1928, Serial No. 328,926

15 Claims.

This invention relates to golf clubs and more particularly to clubs having metallic or other fabricated material handle shafts, in which are used continuously tapering shafts secured to a head having an integral hosel.

It has for its objects the construction of a golf club having all of the necessary resilient and other characteristics of previously constructed clubs having wooden handle shafts and yet retaining all of the desirable features obtainable with the use of metallic or other fabricated material shafts Without the undesirable features of well known wooden shafts which are likely to warp, check, crack. be susceptible to uneven flexibility and other undesirable features due to atmospheric conditions or from those beyond the control of the user.

It is another object of this invention to arrange a golf club having a head and hosel of the same configuration but provided with an adapter portion for connecting the hosel and shaft in such a way that no uneven joints result and that the metallic, fabricated or other shaft will be re-enforced and provide the necessary rigidity in the same manner as would be supplied by the customary wooden shaft. In addition to these advantages it is possible with a fabricated shaft to control the proper weight, resiliency and balance of the club so that it will maintain this balance regardless of the presence or absence of moisture and independent of the strength requirement.

Another object is to simplify the construction of a golf club utilizing a metal or fabricated shaft in which the necessary reenforcing is provided in the shaft without rendering the club construction more difiicult by utilizing a special or intricate metal working operation which is needed to form a hollow metal shaft of the same configuration as the previously used wooden one.

Another object is to provide a construction of club in which a hollow metal or other fabricated material shaft having a continuous and uninterrupted taper may be used.

Another object is to simplify the construction of .a golf club head which is utilized in connection with a straight continuously tapering shaft.

To this extent the present invention relates to the same subject matter as my copending applications Serial Number 328,927 filed December 28, 1928, and Serial Number 328,928 filed December 28, 1928 (cases B and C respectively). However the present invention differs therefrom in that herein a separate adapter is arranged to cooperate with the head and integral hosel in such a way that a continuously tapered fabricated shaft may A still further object of this invention is to provide for a special adapter arrangement for .use in connection with golf clubs wherein the standard golf club head having an integral hosel connected thereto may be utilized in connection with a continuously tapered shaft having its smallest 1 end adapted to be inserted within the hosel and reenforced there by ,means of this particular adapter which both reenforces the portion of the handle adjacent the head and maintains .the proper alignment and cooperation of parts in connection thereto.

Further and more definite objects will appear in connection with the following detailed specification, claims and drawing in which:

Fig. 1 shows a golf club embodying the features of my invention;

Fig. 2 shows an enlarged view of the joints between the handle and head of the-golf club including the adapter;

Fig. 3 shows a cross sectional view of the various parts of the connection shown partially disconnected to more clearly indicate their construction; and

Fig. 4 shows a modified form of adapter for use in connection with the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the golf club I consists of the tubular metal shaft 2, preferably of steel, and adapter3, a hosel 4 connected to a head 5, all parts being secured together by means of a rivet or other connecting element 6. These parts are more clearly shown in connection with Fig. 2 which indicates that the assembled construction provides a substantially smooth contour without unevennesses in the a surface.

The head 5 is integral with the hosel 4 as in the customary arrangement of golf club heads used to connect with previously used wooden handles. The adapter 3 is inserted within thehosel 4 and the shaft 2 is then introducedinto the adapter 3 and maintained in position 'by means of a rivet 6 or otherwise passed through the holes 8, 9 and H3, respectively. The hosel 4 is constructed with outwardly flaring sidewalls and.

the adapter 3 has a tapered portion lZwhich substantially fits the inner surface of the sidewalls of the hosel 4. The adapter 3 is arranged so that at its largest diameter it is substantially the same as the largest diameter of the hosel and it tapers down to a diameter at M which is subsantially the same size as the corresponding portion of the shaft 2 which it is adapted to fit. It will be observed that the tapered portion of the adapter 3 just referred to, and which is exterior to the hosel, is not a straight taper but the extcrior of this portion of the adapter is a curved concave surface. The presence of this curvature causes the flexibility of the shaft to be graduated and distributed so as to give the desired flexibility and feel to the club, and this may be varied by varying the concave curvature. As shown in Fig. 2 the edge of this end M may be sharpened so as to present a substantially smooth surface and if desired the edge may be spun down into direct contact with the tube so as to prevent the entrance of moisture therebetween. The joint may be finished off and polished to give the appearance of a continuous solid handle. Also in order to prevent moisture from entering between the hosel and the adapter portion [2 some form of cement may be utilized to cause these parts to adhere closely together without intervening openings, or they might be secured together by brazing, sweating, welding, soldering or in any other suitable way. When so secured together the parts act substantially as if made integral.

The tubular metal shaft 2 may be inserted within the adapter so that its lower end fits closely with the end !5 of the adapter or a hole N5 of the proper size to securely hold the end of the shaft may be added within the hosel itself. This forms a secure and rigid bearing surface for the end of the shaft, and the upper part of the shaft being secured in contact with the shaft the shaft therefore is supported at two places removed apart a considerable distance so as to be reenforced throughout the extent of the adapter and in effect providing a lever arm of the length at which the adapter extends upwardly from the edge I! of the hosel upon the shaft. The edge I! may, in effect be assumed to be the fulcrum of the lever and the end I5 being secured in place by its fit with the inner surface of the hosel the lever arms'between I! and M, respectively, preventing undue distortion or flexure of the parts.

In this way substantially the same rigidity and flexibility are provided as is present in the customary wooden shaft construction. Also the thickness of the adapter 3 may be varied at will together with the thickness of the side-walls of the tubing 2 so as to permit any degree of resiliency or rigidity desired, without effecting the necessary strength required to prevent breakage of the club when in use. The strength provided by the steel shaft, being so far above that which is necessary to prevent breakage, a greater leeway is thereby provided for varying the sidewall thickness of the parts and consequently the weight and resilient characteristics, as desired.

If greater weight is desired, particularly in the adapter this part may be constructed from solid stock and turned out, on a lathe or automatic screw machine. Such an adapter is shown at 20 having the inner hole 2| of the same confiiguration and taper as the shaft, but the outer surface of the same shape as indicated in connection with the adapter shown at 3. This would also add further rigidity to the parts since the opening 2| closely fits the outer surface of the shaft 2. With this type of adapter the parts might be secured in the same manner as previously indicated. With the rivet or other securing means passing directly through all three of the parts a very firm and closely secured union results with the use of but a single fastening.

This construction also permits the use of a continuously tapered shaft which may be readily manufactured or carried in stock without machining or otherwise constructing complicated and difiicult formations thereon. Such a shaft may be made from seam or seamless tubing but the reenforcement provided is particularly adapted for use with seamed tubing wherein there is an open or welded seam. The advantage of this construction lies in the fact that the reenforcing takes place in the most necessary location so that the continuously tapering handle portions will have the same resilient characteristics as those of a handle having special enlargements or reduced portions.

Considerable variations and modifications could be made of the construction herein indicated without departing from the intended size and scope hereof. As for instance the adapter 3 may be made hollow as indicated or it may be made partially hollow or partially solid so as to distribute the weight in any desired manner and produce the necessary reenforcing without varying the outer appearance of the shaft in any way. Also, with the adapter shown in Fig. 4 it would be unnecessary to have the handle 2 project the entire length of the adapter but it could be inserted only to that extent necessary to secure a firm hold.

Other variations and deviations from the disclosure herein might be made to the extent indicated in the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a golf club, a head having an integral flaring hosel, a reenforcing hollow adapter positioned in said hosel, a shaft of uniformly longitudinally tapering exterior having its smallest diameter within the adapter, said adapter fitting closely onto said shaft at one end and being smoothed to a substantially even surface therewith at the other end and the portions of said adapter between its ends which meet the shaft being out of contact with said shaft.

2. In a golf club, a head having an integral flaring hosel, a reenforcing hollow adapter of substantially uniform side wall thickness positioned in, and having a portion fitting the inside of said hosel, a shaft of uniform longitudinal taper having its smallest diameter within the adapter, said adapter fitting closely onto said shaft above the point of entry of said shaft into the hosel and other portions of said adapter and shaft being out of contact with each other.

3. In a golf club, a head having an integral flaring hosel, a uniformly tapering shaft inserted therein having its smallest diameter within the hosel, a reenforcing adapter having one end portion fitting the inner surface of the hosel and having an intermediate portion enlarged, said end portion engaging the shaft near its end the other end of the adapter being of reduced diameter and tapered to fit and secured to the shaft beyond its point of entrance within the hosel, said shaft being thereby supported in relation to said head at its end and at one other portion outside said hosel and said shaft and adapter being out of contact with each other except at the said supporting points.

4. In a golf club, a head having an integral flaring hosel, a uniformly tapering shaft inserted therein having its smallest diameter within the hosel, a reenforcing adapter having one end portion fitting the inner surface of the hosel and having an intermediate portion enlarged, said end portion engaging the shaft near its end the other end of the adapter being of reduced diameter and tapered to fit and secured to the shaft beyond its pointof entrance within the hosel, said shaft being thereby supported in relation to said head at its end and atone other portion outside said hosel and said shaft and adapter being out of contact with each other except at the said supporting points, and common means passing through said shaft, adapter and hosel for securing said parts in place.

5. In a golf club, the combination with a head having a hosel with a socket having tapering walls, of a tapered tubular metal shaft and a metal adapter, said adapter having tapered walls fitting the tapered walls of said socket and a reversely tapered exterior outside of said hosel, said shaft being fitted to and in contact with said adapter at a plurality of points and being out of contact with said adapter between said points.

6. In a golf club, the combination with a head having a hosel with a socket having tapering walls, of a tapered tubular metal shaft and a metal adapter, said adapter having tapered walls fitting the tapered walls of said socket, said adapter having an interior bearing surface for said shaft within said hosel, said bearing surface being tapered to correspond to the taper of the shaft, and said adapter, exterior to said hosel, having a reverse taper to its extreme outward end which fits against and bears upon said shaft, the said adapter being out of contact with said shaft between its bearing thereon at the outermost end of the adapter and its bearing thereon within the hosel.

7. In a golf club, the combination with a head having a hosel with a socket having tapering Walls, of a tapered tubular metal shaft and a metal adapter, said adapter having tapered walls fitting the tapered walls of said socket, said adapter having an interior bearing surface for said shaft within said hosel, said bearing surface being tapered to correspond to the taper of the shaft, said adapter, exterior to said hosel, having a reverse taper to its extreme outward end which fits against and bears upon said shaft, the said adapter being out of contact with said shaft between its bearing thereon at the outermost end of the adapter and its bearing thereon within the hosel, said adapter being secured to said shaft at the outer end of said adapter.

8. In a golf club, the combination with a head having a hosel with a socket having tapering walls, of a tapered tubular metal shaft and a metal adapter, said adapter having tapered walls fitting the tapered walls of said socket, said adapter having an interior bearing surface for said shaft within said hosel, said bearing surface being tapered to correspond to the taper of the shaft, and said adapter, exterior to said hosel, having a reverse taper to its extreme outward end which fits against and bears upon said shaft, the said adapter being out of contact with said shaft between its bearing thereon at the outermost end of the adapter and its bearing thereon within the hosel, the reversely tapered portion of said adapter, which is outside said hosel, being longitudinally concaved.

9. In a golf club, the combination with a head having a hosel with a socket having tapering walls, of a tapered tubular metal shaft and a metal adapter, said adapter having tapered walls fitting the tapered walls of said socket, said adapter. having an interior bearing surface for said shaft within said hosel, said bearing surface being tapered to correspond to the taper of the shaft, and. said adapter, exterior to said hosel, having a reverse taper to its extreme outward end which fits against and bears upon said shaft, the said adapter being out of contact with said shaft between its bearing thereon at the outermost end of the adapter and its bearing thereon within the hosel, the reversely tapered portion of said adapter, which is outside said hosel, being longitudinally concaved and said adapter being secured at its outer end to said shaft.

10. A golf club embodying a head provided with an open shaft socket, a flexible tubular element open at both ends and constructed of comparatively thin metal, one end of said element being reduced and secured in said socket, a shaft, one end of which telescopes into saidelement and into the said socket, and means securing the end of the shaft and the club head together, the said element flaring from a point adjacent the other end thereof towards and terminating adjacent the end of said socket, portions of said element intermediate its ends being of an interior diameter considerably greater than the exterior diameter of the adjacent portion of the shaft.

11. Means for securing a shaft to a club head, said means embodying a tubular element constructed of comparatively thin metal and open at both ends to permit the telescoping of a shaft thereinto, one end of the element being reduced to fit within the shaft socket in the club head, the other end of the element gradually increasing in diameter from a point adjacent the extremity thereof to a point in proximity tothe entrance end of the said socket, portions of said element intermediate its ends being spaced from the adjacent portion of the shaft.

12. A golf club comprising a tubular metal shaft, a club head provided with a hosel having substantially rigid walls around a recess in which the end of said. shaft is socketed, and metal spring means more yieldable than the hosel walls, engaging the shaft and hosel for yieldably centering a portion of said shaft which is spaced from said end, said shaft being free to flex within the hosel between said end and the portion engaged by said spring means, said spring means comprising a tubular resilient metal sleeve having oppositely tapering portions extending from a central portion of maximum diameter, the extremities of said oppositely tapering portions being shaped to fit the shaft, one within and the other outside of the hosel, said sleeve between its extremities being spaced from said shaft, and the upper end portion of the hosel engaging said spring sleeve adjacent its portion of maximum diameter.

13. A golf club comprising an iron having a hosel with a tapered socket, a metal sleeve fitted in said socket and having a bead fitted to the upper end of the hosel and a collar extending above said bead, a metallic shaft having its lower end seated in the lower part of said socket, said collar fitting said shaft above said socket, said sleeve having a groove inside of it around said shaft to permit the shaft to bend independently of the sleeve.

14. As an article of manufacture, a shock absorbing sleeve for securing a metallic shaft in an iron socket comprising a resilient sheet metal sleeve having one end tapered from its tip upwardly to fit a conventional socket and a resilient collar at the upper end with an upset bend between the ends leaving a recess inside the sleeve to permit bending of the shaft between the collar and the tip.

15. Means for securing a shaft to a club head, said means embodying a tubular element formed of thin flexible metal and open at both ends, one end of said element being exteriorly reduced to form a shoulder spaced from the extremity of the last said end, the portion of said element on the other side of said shoulder tapering towards the extremity of the opposite end of the element, the interior diameter of said element increasing in size from the last said end towards the said shoulder.

ARTHUR A. KRAEUTER. 

